The Weight Cutting Chronicles: UFC 249

Henry Cejudo hurt, off UFC 211
Credit: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC)

Flyweight (125lbs): 7-2 (UFC) UFC Flyweight Champion

Bantamweight (135lbs): 2-0 (UFC) UFC Bantamweight Champion

Henry Cejudo made his debut in the UFC back in 2014, as a bantamweight, against Dustin Kimura, where he earned a unanimous decision victory. Cejudo will be defending his UFC bantamweight belt at UFC 249. Cejudo captured the belt in spectacular fashion after coming from behind to capture a 3rd round TKO over Marlon Moraes in June of 2019. Though Moraes is a much bigger man than Cejudo, his gas tank failed him in the later rounds and Henry’s technique and lack of a huge weight cut really shone through. Henry’s first UFC fight and his most recent one are the only fights where he has fought at 135lbs in the UFC.

Cejudo captured the flyweight belt back in August of 2018,  in a razor-close rematch with Demetrious Johnson in which he earned a split decision victory. It was a completely astonishing upset that shocked the MMA community. Then, in January of 2019, Cejudo was able to stop TJ Dillashaw very early in the first round in order to defend his UFC flyweight strap.

Cejudo has realized his dream of becoming a two-weight UFC Champion as well as an Olympic freestyle wrestling gold medal winner to become one of the greatest combat athletes of all time. (Cejduo wrestled at 55kg or 121lbs) Henry is fighting Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight championship at UFC 249. Who knows what this means for the flyweight division, but Cejudo looks great at 135lbs, almost as if the 33-year-old should have been there all along.